Blade unbuckled the gunbelt to the Smith and Wessons and allowed them to slip to the asphalt.
“Blast,” Hickok muttered. He did the same with the Colts.
“Don’t forget your knives,” Aloysius said to Blade.
Frowning, the giant laid his big knives beside the gunbelt.
Hickok and Bonnie deposited their automatic rifles.
The King appeared to relax somewhat. He beamed expansively and approached them, with ten of the Hounds shadowing his every step.
“There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“How did you find us?” Bonnie inquired.
“Elementary, my dear,” Aloysius said. “When we lost contact with the platoon General Thayer dispatched, I knew you were on your way into the city. And when one of our squads failed to report in earlier, my hunch was confirmed. All of our patrols keep in touch with walkie-talkies.” He paused, puffing out his chest. “I’d already decided to capture you myself, since the general has become unexpectedly lax in the performance of his duties. And when a patrol radioed in a report of a gunfight, I closed in on this area. I sent men up on the rooftops with binoculars. The rest was child’s play.”
“You’re holding a friend of ours,” Blade declared. “Where is he?”
“Do you mean the cute little man who likes big swords?”
“Where is he?” Blade reiterated.
“Rikki is a guest at my mansion,” Aloysius said. “You’ll be joining him shortly.” He motioned with his left arm, and a couple of Hounds came forward and collected the weapons from the ground.
“Are you a bad man?” Chastity interjected to everyone’s surprise.
Aloysius grinned at her. “Why, my dear child. Why would you ever say such a thing?”
“You took my Uncle Rikki.”
“Rikki is your uncle?” Aloysius asked.
“In a manner of speaking,” Hickok replied for her.
“What are your names?” the King inquired.
“Guess,” Hickok said.
“I’m Chastity,” revealed the six year old. “This is my new daddy, Hickok. And this.”—she pointed at the head Warrior—“is my Uncle Blade.”
“What a fount of information you are,” Aloysius said sweetly. “Where are you from?”
“I’m from Atlanta,” Chastity divulged. “My daddy and Uncle Blade are from far, far away. They live at the Home.”
“Is that so?” Aloysius responded. He studied the Warriors. “Where might your Home be?”
“Mars,” Blade answered.
“I’ll learn the truth eventually,” Aloysius vowed.
Hickok moved over to Bonnie and took Chastity. “Don’t tell this cow chip anything else,” he instructed her.
“I’m sorry. Did I do wrong?” Chastity asked.
“Just let me do the talkin’,” Hickok advised.
Aloysius the First looked over his right shoulder. “Captain Tuchman, bring up the trucks.”
A Hound officer saluted and wheeled, jogging off.
The King shifted his attention to Bonnie. “I can’t begin to convey my disappointment in you. And after all we’ve meant to each other.”
“Screw you!” Bonnie snapped.
“Again?” Aloysius said, and laughed.
“I’ll never feel clean again,” Bonnie commented bitterly.
“Aren’t you being just a little melodramatic?” Aloysius queried. “After all, you were treated fairly.”
“Fairly!”
“You accepted a formal invitation to my estate. You willingly indulged yourself at my table. And you were paid in gold for your company. It’s not my fault you wouldn’t accept my token of gratitude.”
“I hate you,” Bonnie stated.
“Hate me all you want. The fact remains that my conscience is clear.”
“You don’t have a conscience, you pig.”
“Am I the pig? You ate like one, my dear.” Aloysius chuckled. “I thought your stomach was a bottomless pit.”
“If it’s the last thing I ever do, I’ll kill you,” Bonnie asserted.
“Alas, dear heart, such a luxury will be denied you,” Aloysius said. “By sunset you will be dead.”
Blade listened to their conversation while assessing the possibility of escaping. He saw the two Hounds carry his Bowies and the other arms to the jeep on the left and place the weapons on the passenger side. The captain had reached the next intersection and was waving his right arm.
Seconds later, two convoy trucks lumbered into view from the left and turned toward the assembled Hounds.
“So you’re the one who thinks he’s going to conquer the world?” Blade inquired to take the heat off Bonnie.
“I don’t think I will,” Aloysius corrected him. “I know I will.”
“Have you counted your marbles lately?” Hickok asked.
“Scoff if you like. Great men are always derided by those of lesser attributes,” the King declared imperiously.
“You can’t seriously expect to rule the world?” Blade said.
“As I told your friend Rikki, my goal is practical and achievable. I intend to gather to my banner all of the scavengers, raiders, and outcasts in the Outlands. My army will be unstoppable. The Hounds of Hades will destroy all opposition. Mark my words. I will rule the world.”
Hickok looked at Blade. “Why do folks let themselves be bossed around by turkeys like this?”
“I rule because of my inherent superiority,” Aloysius said.
Blade sighed. “I’ve met men and women like you before. Tyrants who believe they have the right to impose their will on everyone else.”
“I do.”
“You’ll be stopped. Tyrants come and go. Many have tried to set themselves up as supreme rulers over the centuries, and none have succeeded. Decades before the war there was a man named Hitler who tried to conquer the planet. He was defeated, and he had a vast army at his disposal. You’ll suffer the same fate.”
Aloysius snickered. “We shall see.” He glanced at the convoy trucks as the vehicles stopped behind the jeeps. “I must insist that you accompany me to my estate. I have a little surprise in store for you.”
“I like surprises,” Chastity commented.
“This will be a surprise you’ll never forget,” Aloysius informed her. He gestured with his right hand. “Would you be so kind as to board the trunk on the right? My men will escort you.”
Blade walked toward the truck, his skin tingling as the Hounds parted so he could pass. Dozens of rifles were still trained on him from adjoining roofs and windows, and he hoped none of the Hounds would get careless and prematurely squeeze a trigger. As he stepped past the jeeps he glanced at his Bowies, repressing an impulse to grab them and start swinging. Now was not the time. He moved around the truck to the rear, ringed by Hounds every foot of the way.
Captain Tuchman, a lean officer with a prominent nose and full cheeks, nodded at the open tailgate. “Climb on board,” he directed.
Blade reluctantly complied, striding to the front and taking a seat on a narrow wooden bench running the length of the transport.
Hickok, Chastity, and Bonnie joined him.
“Well, this is another fine mess we’ve gotten ourselves into,” the gunman groused as he sat down.
“Cheer up, Daddy,” Chastity offered. “We’ll be okay.”
“I never should have led you back here,” Bonnie remarked with remorse.
Hounds were clambering into the convoy truck and sitting on the bench. There was another bench on the opposite side, and both were quickly filled. Captain Tuchman was the last to climb on. “Don’t try anything foolish,” he called to the Warriors.
Hickok gazed glumly at a Hound involved with raising the tailgate.
“They took my Colts. I don’t like it when somebody takes my Colts.”
Blade gripped the edge of the bench and stared at the floorboards.
“We’ll make our move when we find Rikki.”